Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Fails in Alabama

This spring, lawmakers in Alabama looked set to reform civil asset forfeiture. However, even though politicians and interest groups across the political spectrum supported reform, the reforms failed. The libertarian Institute for Justice rates Alabama’s current civil asset forfeiture laws as “among the worst in the nation.” Civil asset forfeiture is the process where law […]

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Bradley Ruben of Hollywood, Florida Arrested for Fatal Hit-and-Run

Bradley Ruben of Hollywood, Florida is accused of causing a fatal car crash on I-95 that led to the death of Juan Pedro Garcia of North Bay Village, and attempting to run from the scene of the accident. Ruben, 32, is charged with resisting arrest and failing to stop at an accident involving death. During […]

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NYPD Releases Documents Detailing Property Seized from Citizens

The New York Police Department (NYPD) has released about 160,000 documents which detail the property and money seized from citizens, primarily during arrests, between 2017 and 2017. This is the result of a two-year lawsuit which alleged officials were withholding records documenting tens of millions of dollars in seized property. In July 2014, the Bronx […]

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Alabama_State_House_Montgomery_West_view_20160713_1-300x181This spring, lawmakers in Alabama looked set to reform civil asset forfeiture. However, even though politicians and interest groups across the political spectrum supported reform, the reforms failed.

The libertarian Institute for Justice rates Alabama’s current civil asset forfeiture laws as “among the worst in the nation.” Civil asset forfeiture is the process where law enforcement can seize an individual’s property if it is suspected of being involved in a crime. In most states, a criminal conviction is not required before property is seized. In Alabama, profits from civil asset forfeiture are used to fund law enforcement. This has led to accusations of abuse and “policing for profit.”
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Juan-Emmanuels-235x300Substitute teacher Juan Emmanuel Manns of Boca Raton, Florida was arrested for allegedly touching a 7-year-old student inappropriately.

Manns, 24, taught at an elementary school in Deerfield Beach. He faces one count of lewd and lascivious conduct and was ordered held at Broward County’s Main Jail on $100,000 bond. The press did not say if he has hired an attorney.

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Bradley-Ruben-224x300Bradley Ruben of Hollywood, Florida is accused of causing a fatal car crash on I-95 that led to the death of Juan Pedro Garcia of North Bay Village, and attempting to run from the scene of the accident.

Ruben, 32, is charged with resisting arrest and failing to stop at an accident involving death. During his first-appearance court session on Thursday, prosecutors asked for a $100,000 bond out of concern that Ruben might flee the state because he’s a professional poker play who has made a lot of money.

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NYPD_Police_Car-300x201The New York Police Department (NYPD) has released about 160,000 documents which detail the property and money seized from citizens, primarily during arrests, between 2017 and 2017. This is the result of a two-year lawsuit which alleged officials were withholding records documenting tens of millions of dollars in seized property.

In July 2014, the Bronx Defenders, a public defender office based in the South Bronx, filed a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request for these documents to be released. They argued that the NYPD was holding onto citizens’ property even after their cases were completed.
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Kevin-Kerlin-300x169Kevin Kerlin of Jupiter, Florida was arrested for allegedly sending inaapropriate text messages to his friend’s teenage daughter.

Kerlin, 45, is charged with unlawful use of a communication device and solicitation of a minor. It is unclear if he has sought legal representation.

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